DAGUPAN CITY -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here reminded people planning to conduct fireworks display to secure a permit.
Fire Marshal Georgian Pascua said Friday they will implement a no permit, no fireworks display policy in the city.
“Dagupeños cannot just conduct fireworks display, especially if there is a large crowd. It is far too dangerous,” he said.
People who are considering using pyrotechnics during the revelries should approach the BFP for a permit, or notify the agency to ensure that they will follow the fire safety standard, Pascua said.
Securing a permit, he said, proves they are able to comply with the fire safety standard to prevent, or at the very least, minimize casualty, if there will be any unforeseen occurrences.
“We are trying to prevent what happened in a certain barangay in Dagupan before,” he added.
Pascua refers to the fireworks display, which gone wrong in barangay Calmay last January 1, resulting in 26 casualties.
As of writing, only barangay Malued applied for a fireworks display permit.
Meanwhile, authorities urged the public not to use firecrackers but to watch pyrotechnic displays, as they are far safer.
BFP Dagupan also encouraged the barangays to establish their own firecracker zone or identify areas in their barangays suitable for fireworks display.
The agency on Friday identified a vacant lot along the Pantal river here as the selling area for firecrackers. (PNA)
